Comparison guide
Spirulina or phycocyanin?
Phycocyanin is the blue pigment-protein extracted from spirulina and sold as a concentrated antioxidant. The human trials that exist were mostly done with whole spirulina, which is not the same product.
The options, compared
| Option | Evidence | Best for | The honest note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirulina | Moderate evidence | Lipids and blood pressure | Small trials at 1–8 g/day show lipid and blood-pressure improvements, graded moderate because the trials are small, short and from a few groups. | View |
| Phycocyanin | Limited evidence | Not worth the premium | Its human data are one safety study and trials of whole spirulina, so there is no efficacy-based dose. | View |
Our verdict
Whole spirulina powder is the cheaper and better-studied choice; phycocyanin charges a large premium for little human data. With either, buy third-party tested product, avoid both with phenylketonuria, and never rely on spirulina for B12.